November 5, 1862 - Wednesday - 160 years ago today

Status - John Baer - 40th Indiana Regiment - Crittenden's Corps - Wood's Division - Wagner's Brigade

General Rosecrans during this time is attempting to remedy several shortcomings he has found in the army, such as lack of arms for various units, issues regarding discipline including conducting courts-martial, and finding needed cavalry to contest the Confederate cavalry still in the area.

Crittenden's corps on the 3rd is ordered to move from Glasgow, KY toward Gallatin, TN as soon as practicable.   Below is the order:

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BOWLING GREEN,  November 3, 1862

Major-General Crittenden,

  The general commanding directs that you move your command from Glasgow to Scottsvile or in the vicinity of Gallatin, with five days' rations, three in haversacks.  Camp where there are wood, water and forage.  Having done so, push scouts quietly over toward the east, and ascertain all the information possible of the enemy and the country,  With regard to subsistence, leave orders for Smith to halt at Glasgow until stores are supplied them; then to move on.  Keep up your communications and supplies.  A depot for the latter will be established at or below Mitchellsville.

ARTHUR C. DUCAT, 

Lieutenat-Colonel and Acting Chief of Staff.

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Below is a map of the area, Glasgow is upper right, Scottsville center, and Gallatin lower left-center.  Mitchellville (misspelled in dispatch) is just north of Portland, TN., at left.

 

In the east, President Lincoln finally relieves General McClellan of all commands and appoints General Burnside in his place.  This changes was due to lack of any movement to attack Confederate forces in Virginia. Burnside will be expected to soon go over to the attack, as will General Rosecrans in Tennessee.

 

More Information:

• Link: War Operations, see Volume XX, Chapter XXXII, Part II, Correspondence,  pp. 5-12.
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. p. 87.
  
• Shelby Foote: The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1, Fort Sumter to Perryville, pp. 741-757. 
• Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, Vol 3. The Tide Shifts, pp, 600-603.
• Peter Cozzens, No Better Place to Die: The Battle of Stones River, pp. 1-19.
  

 

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